25 Essential Items Every Bar Cart Needs

The 1950s style was all about fun—and some of that whimsy is reemerging in 21st-century homes. Witness the glorious resurgence of a '50s home staple: the bar cart. This retro piece of furniture pulls double-duty: If styled well, it not only serves as the focal point of a room, but come party time it takes center stage again as a functional, fashionable platform for crafting your guests' favorite cocktails.

There are countless styles of bar carts, as well as products to put on them. But what exactly do you need to get your cart up and running? A bottle opener and some booze are de rigueur. But beyond that? We turned to two experts: Vanessa Dina, author of The Art of the Bar Cart: Styling & Recipes (Chronicle Books); and Brooklyn-based bartender extraordinaire Ivy Mix, who routinely shows up on lists of the country’s top mixologists. Here are 10 of their suggestions for can’t-miss bar cart items, followed by 15 of our own picks.

1. Five Basic Spirits

This may sound obvious, but Mix—who designed and built her own modular red and orange bar cart so she could have a place for all of her tools—notes that there are five types of liquor that should always be on your cart: a vodka, a gin, a bourbon or rye whiskey, a rum, and a tequila. “They’re the standards,” Mix says.

2. Mixers

Once you have your array of five essential spirits, you’ll need modifiers or mixers to create the drinks. “The ones that go the quickest in my house are my sweet vermouth, my Campari, and my Cointreau," Mix says. "I make martinis, margaritas, and Manhattans, so they’re really important. Having them right there makes it easy: A little bit of this, a little bit of Campari, and voilà—you have a Negroni. In fact, Campari is the most useful thing to make a tasty drink when other stuff is not around.”

3. Bitters

These flavorful, alcoholic extracts have taken the cocktail world by storm in recent years: Foodies craft them at home, bars highlight them on the menu, and multiple new brands and flavors are popping up everywhere. They’re also perfect for your home bar cart, Dina tells Mental Floss: “It’s an easy way to create a lot of variation in your drinks. They add spices, herbs, and other flavorful notes to a drink. But best of all, unlike liquor, bitters take up minimal space on a cart. I suggest a cubby to keep your collection organized.”

4. Mason jars

The internet abounds with recipes and ideas for adding a fun touch to your next shindig by serving cocktails in individual mason jars. But Mix sees the jars as an essential and versatile tool that can do the work of either a shaker or a mixing glass. “You can really do anything in a mason jar,” Mix says. “You can stir a drink in a mason jar and know that it’s going to be OK.”

5. Small hand juicer

“A lot of people don’t think this is important, but one thing I recommend to everyone is fresh juice,” Mix says. She notes that people frequently use a lime juice blend from the grocery store when making margaritas. “Most of the time it’s not actually lime juice, but this gross God-knows-what. Even if it is lime juice, had to pasteurize it or cook it in some way; it’s not right. But if you get one of those little hand juicers, you can squeeze a cup of lime juice in a couple of minutes. It’s a complete game changer.”

6. Citrus peeler

When guests leave your next party, you want them to remember that the cocktails tasted fantastic—and looked even better. “That’s where garnishes come in,” Dina says. “Something as simple as an orange twist provides visual appeal as well as aromatics.” Lemon, lime, and grapefruit rinds created with a citrus peeler can also transform a simple drink into a professional-style cocktail.

7. Shaker with a built-in strainer

Cocktail newbies may not realize there are multiple varieties of strainers. A Hawthorne strainer is best for shaken cocktails; its flat profile and coil of wire that hugs the inside rim of the mixing glass keep chunks of ice, fruit, and herbs from slipping into the serving glass. Cobbler shakers come with a mixing vessel, strainer, and fitted top all built in; using one means that you won’t need to worry about misplacing your strainer. “They have a classic look that many people want,” Dina says. “In addition, it helps you pour and makes everything a little easier.”

8. Ice container and tongs

“Ice is an essential, and sometimes overlooked, player in cocktails,” Dina says. “Drinks would not be as tasty or inviting without the chill that ice provides, whether it’s large, small, hand cut, crystal clear, cubed, or crushed.” Ice buckets or containers not only keep your ice cool, but usually serve as a decorative accent as well. “If you have a theme for your bar cart, you can get an ice bucket to match,” Dina says. “I’ve seen a lot of them in rose gold recently.” Dina shares a tip: Buy some extra ice tongs so your guests can freshen up their own drinks.

9. Versatile, attractive glassware

From cordials to highballs to beer and wine, most drinks are supposed to be served in their very own style of glass. But not everyone has enough room on their home bar for multiple styles, so they have to pick and choose. “Short glasses are the most versatile,” says Dina. “You can serve everything from wine to a mixed drink in them and they take up less space. Also, it’s easier to find cute designs and styles at flea markets and home stores in the shorter versions.” Dina has cordial glasses displayed on her two-level home bar cart. Mix collects antique cocktail glasses; in addition, her father is a glassblower. “He uses his own colors so he can make beautiful, colorful glasses,” Mix says. “Having a really nice glass brings it the extra mile.”

10. Your own personality

Keep in mind that your friends are in your home—and not a bar—so parties are a chance to share a bit of yourself. Dina suggests that small frames with pictures of family, a piece of artwork that you picked up on a trip, or even foraged items like attractive branches can personalize your bar cart. She also recommends plants; her favorite are air plants. “A touch of nature freshens things up,” she says. “They are visually pleasing and make the whole area seem homier.”

11. Wine charms

These floral wine charms—which come in packs of 12—are both fun and functional. Not only do they serve as cute drink identifiers (that way, your guests won’t lose track of their beverages), but they also add a fun pop of color to your drinkware. Plus, they’ve earned an (almost) perfect average rating of 4.8 stars. 

12. Oggi liquor dispenser

This rotating liquor dispenser can hold up to three bottles of your favorite alcohol. It’s incredibly easy to operate, too: Simply push the button to pour out your favorite libations and enjoy responsibly. Plus, its stainless steel construction offers durability.

13. Cocktail napkin holder

This napkin holder from Caspari is stylish enough to display as decor directly on your bar cart. That’s because its metallic gold lacquer interior and smooth, jet-black exterior are sleek enough to match any decor aesthetic. According to the manufacturer, it’s large enough to hold up to two packs of cocktail napkins.

14. A wine decanter

Let your wine “air out” inside this hand-blown glass crystal decanter, which was specially designed for red wines. According to the manufacturer, it’s large enough to hold one bottle of wine. Meanwhile, the slanted spout makes it easy to pour, which can help prevent accidental spills or drips.

15. A recipe book

This 188-page book is complete with 70 drink recipes, allowing you to easily elevate your at-home happy hours. It’s also packed with plenty of tips, techniques, valuable insight, and expert-recommended product recommendations for budding mixologists. It’s available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle form. 

16. Electric wine bottle opener

Ditch your manual wine opener in favor of something more convenient and efficient, such as this cordless one from Oster. With more than 32,000 Amazon ratings, this best-selling electric wine opener can open up to 30 bottles per charge. A charging base is also included.

17. Cocktail picks

Use these cocktail picks to accessorize your drink(s) of choice—think: martinis, Bloody Marys, bellinis, and more—with olives, fruit, flowers, or the garnish of your choice. The picks come in packs of 20 and are made of sturdy stainless steel.

18. Garnish tray caddy

Keep all of your garnishes organized—and cool—inside this convenient caddy. The handy tray has amassed nearly 1400 reviews and an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars. It’s easy to clean, too: Simply throw it in the dishwasher, and you’ll be good to go.

19. Proper coasters

Despite their stunning marble-inspired design and golden accents, these coasters only look expensive. Use them to protect your furniture from potential stains and spills. Additionally, their large size is suitable for all types of barware (wine glasses, highball glasses, martini glasses, and more).

20. Wine glass holder

This holder can store up to six wine glasses, and it also doubles as a drying rack, with the attached base serving as a drip pad to keep your surfaces mess-free. Meanwhile, its fold-up design is especially convenient for those who are short of storage space.

21. A cocktail and margarita machine

Think of this electronic cocktail machine as a Keurig for alcoholic beverages. Its innovative, user-friendly design is easy to operate with the push of a button, allowing you to get creative with your cocktails. The corresponding capsules (which range from margaritas to old fashioneds) come pre-measured with a blend of bitters, extracts, and juices. Just add your favorite alcohol and enjoy.

22. A rubber bar mat

This rubber mat is the perfect size for your bar cart. Its water- and slip-resistant construction will keep your cart’s shelves and countertops protected from messes, spills, and drips. And the fun quote adds a playful touch. When it comes time for a cleaning, just throw it in the dishwasher or wash it by hand.

23. A muddler

Enjoy flavorful libations from the comfort of home with the help of this wooden muddler, which has a 4.7-star rating. Whether you’re using it for lime, mint, or berries, the options are truly limitless—so go ahead and get creative with your cocktail concoctions. Opt to store it in the included storage pouch when not in use.

24. A bar jigger

This sleek, steel jigger makes measuring and pouring liquor a breeze. It comes pre-marked with precise measurements (.25 ounces, .5 ounces, .75 ounces, 1 ounce, 1.25 ounces, 1.75 ounces, and 2 ounces) for near-effortless drink preparation. You can also snag it in copper.

25. The right sign

Every home bar needs a little flavor, and this antique-inspired metal sign has over 1100 ratings and counting—with 902 of them being perfect five stars. Mount it right above your bar cart or display it directly on one of the shelves alongside your other bar cart accessories. And, for just $8, it’s a total steal.

This article was originally published in 2018; it was updated for 2021.